Do forum signatures really help?

melbel · #1 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 01:59 PM

I have forum accounts on various sites and I am wondering how much a signature really helps. Let's say link to one of my sites from my sig line here with the anchor text "anchor text choice one" and from another forum I link to the same site with "anchor text choice two."

Would this help my site? I know I only have a handful of posts here, but I have a lot of posts on other forums. Just wondering how much this helps.

Also, is it a bad idea to link to let's say two of my niche sites here and then the same two on another sig? Or should I mix it up: like link to two sites here and link to two different sites on a different forum sig?

succeedemail · #2 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 02:19 PM

First of all if the forum has a nofollow policy, then you don't get any link value passed on. Honestly, I don't worry about forum signatures from a SEO standpoint... I don't think they have that much value. I think they are a smart idea when you post on sites related to what your niche is, and can rouse the interest of people on the site to visit yours.

Cars-blog · #3 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 02:28 PM

Forum signatures are not high quality links but they do count as backlinks as long as they're not nofollow.

dWhite · #4 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by succeedemail

First of all if the forum has a nofollow policy, then you don't get any link value passed on. Honestly, I don't worry about forum signatures from a SEO standpoint... I don't think they have that much value. I think they are a smart idea when you post on sites related to what your niche is, and can rouse the interest of people on the site to visit yours.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cars-blog

Forum signatures are not high quality links but they do count as backlinks as long as they're not nofollow.

Regardless of nofollow or not, your signature link is still seen by members of the forums and you can still receive traffic.

dks404 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 02:34 PM

jsut as dWhite mentioned. Your links are seen by all members of the forum so there is value in having them. However, forum links are probably of minimal value for link building. I always tell myself it only takes .001 "link juice" to rank better than someone elses site sometimes, so i throw my links in my sig.

**Brandon Sheley** · #6 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 03:02 PM

I agree with the post above that forum sigs aren't going to help skyrocket your site in the SERP's, but every link does help, so I guess the short answer to your question is yes, they do help.
I never join a forum just to add a link in my signature, I join forums for the information and content on the forums, if I get a few visitors from the links in my sig, than it's a bonus

Hafsoh · #7 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 03:33 PM

The problem is that any links from any one site begin to diminish in value the more often they're repeated. Some SEO experts think that search engines only takes one sig link from each forum that was posted to. It would be common sense in light of the fact that forum sigs are totally self-promoting. That's why for SEO purposes is better if you post on several forums, not only one.

For maximum benefit your sig links should be relevant to the forum you're posting in.

tcyonline.com · #8 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009, 12:07 AM

I do agree with the dks404 because it gives attention visitor and get traffic from that visitor.

larryatv7 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009, 02:26 AM

They give you backlinks and some marketing. That helps although the value is not much.

dsouza · #10 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009, 03:42 AM

not puts value but counts as backlinks.

umesh · #11 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009, 05:05 AM

Count as backlinks if it is do-follow link.

519studio · #12 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009, 07:38 AM

The forums has no follow policy and we are here for share our confusion not for following anybody

thanks & regards
519studio

grazhie · #13 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009, 07:38 AM

It's effective because i got new projects this month.The new job requires link building in do follow forums and blogs.It really helps in generating traffics to your site.

sortinstechnologies · #14 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009, 07:40 AM

Yes really. Using of your signature in your profile with simple but attractive headlines and a link to your website. It will prompt the readers of your post to click the link and reach your website.

Mousee · #15 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009, 09:42 AM

It's a trade-off between quality and quantity. You can make few links from relevant sites with high PR or many links in forum signatures. The result would be the same.

sherone · #16 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009, 09:56 AM

through forums we can bring a lot of traffic. It would be better if you bring several sig links from different forums.

MayaLocke · #17 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 05:25 AM

Forum sigs help, Matt Cutts just stated that they have changed the way the view "dofollow" it will now pass PR. You should not use forum posts alone for link building (and all posts should be quality and relevant).

dubscrub · #18 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 01:07 PM

IMO they help but not a whole lot. For SEO purposes almost any link with quality anchor text pointing back to your site is a good thing. I think that forum sigs and blog comments are a great start for new sites that really don't have the authority to yet draw links organically. They also help to get a steady flow of traffic to your sites as well to see how people react to what you have there.

core8284 · #19 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 03:31 PM

forums can give a lot of information that you want to know.

andrewmartins07 · #20 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 10:06 PM

The main idea of joining a forum is to share knowledge. That is, if you dont know something ask, and if you do know something help another. If your post in all those other forums are actually helping someone then you have a high chance of traffic tru yr sig.

Stay within the guidelines of the forum and you will not have any problems with yr anchor text.